Two people died and five others were transported to a health clinic on Sunday as wildfires spread across the Greek island of Salamina. The victims, identified as a couple, were found in the village of Peristeria. The blazes occurred during a major holiday weekend when many residents and visitors travel from nearby Athens to the island.
The fires broke out in the Peristeria and Selina areas, fueled by strong winds that caused the flames to reach residential areas within seven minutes, according to Fire Brigadier General Vasileios Vathrakogiannis. Authorities deployed 192 firefighters, 14 aircraft and helicopters, volunteer crews, and municipal water tankers to the scene. Major Giorgos Panagopoulos reported that homes were under threat and requested ferry boats to assist with potential sea evacuations.
Local officials noted that the fires began simultaneously in different locations, leading to evacuation orders for the Kolones and Saterli areas. Deputy Mayor Thodoris Zannis stated that firefighting forces were being reinforced as the fire spread across a mountain. The Greek fire department and coast guard coordinated to manage the emergency, which occurred amid a period of high temperatures and drought conditions across Europe.
For those in the affected villages, the immediate impact includes the loss of property and the disruption of basic services, as flames reached residential zones in less than ten minutes. Families and property owners will notice these changes immediately through evacuation orders and physical damage to homes. The deaths of two individuals and the hospitalization of five others underscore the physical risks faced by those in the path of the blaze during one of Greece's busiest travel periods.
The fires also place a strain on national emergency resources, involving the fire department, coast guard, and municipal workers simultaneously. This event follows a pattern of heatwaves and droughts that have increased fire risks across Spain, France, and Greece throughout the summer. As of Sunday, firefighting operations were ongoing, and authorities had not yet established a specific date for when residents could safely return to evacuated zones. Efforts to contain the blazes and assess the total damage to property and infrastructure continue.